San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-02-23
THE GERMAN ARMY BILL.

The German elections are the all-ab-
sorbing topic, and Bismark's declara-
tion that the reicbstag will be again dis
solved II the ministerial party are In the
minority does not add to the pacifica-
ton of public feeling. The party OF the
center In the German reichstsg have
been very conservative. They have
yielded again and again to the repre-
sentations made by Bismark as to the
necessity Of enlarging the army and in
creasing the power Of the military.
Every such concession has only been the
pretext for still greater demands, until
the time seems fully come for resisting
all farther attempts TO make the people
wholly subservIent to the military de-
mands of the crown. 1t Is now nearly
fourteen years since the first German
parliament, or reichstag, gave its atten-
ton to the qualification OF its army. At
this time the army Vas sought to be con-
stituted on what was accepted as lis
permanent peace footing; three years
military service and a regular army
of 400 600 men. This proposition met
with opposition and an effective peace
service was agreed upon of 40l.659 men
for seven years. This comprise WAS
voted against by the Progressists, but
became law by q vote of PA to l23. Thus
matters stood about six years, when In
1880 the government increased It's de-
mands, asking for an additional force OF
eleven infantry regiments, one regiment
field artillery, thirty-two field batteries,
one regiment offoot artillery and one
battalion Of pioneers. The government
also asked a continuation OF the old mill
tary law for seven additional years. The
motion to restrict to three years was
lost BY vote OF $50 to l04; and, the peace
strength was fixed at Al, go for term
of seven years, by a vote Of lS6 to 81.
Thus from 1874 to 1880 an increase Of
27,270 men was made in the peace force,
and the government was not satisfied.
The bill upon which the government
was recently defeated called for 10000
additional men to the peace force, and
for an extension OF the term Of the
army's control by the Emperor for an
other seven years.
This is the situation today. In 1874
all that Bismarck asked was 400, 900 men
as the peace footing for the army, and
three years military term. This
was granted for seven years instead Of
being made perpetual, as the man OF iron
and of blood demanded. In 1880 an addi-
tional force Of q, 40 effective men was
added to the national peace force and
the term of control by the emperor
again extended for seven years. In 1887
a demand is made by Bismarck for 40
900 additional men and another extern
sion of seven yesrs. This latter demand
the party of the Center united with the
Progressists In refusing, and, the gov
eminent being defeated the reichstag
was dissolved. The law under which
the army was organized expires by lin
itation on the 3lst of next March and
the situation, considering the beligerent
attitude OF France, is decidedly inter-
esting. How the elections have termina-
ted may not be definitely ascertained
until the vote is taken, on the assem-
bling of the new reichstag. In the
meantime, the excitement continues,
and should this vote be adverse TO the
government and the reichstag be a sec
Ond time dissolved, serious disturbances
of an internal character may be added
to the muchly mixed condition of Ger
man affairs.